Frequently Asked Questions of PAWS's Pet Sitting Policies

Q. What services do you offer?

A. PAWS offers personalized pet care in your own home, including dog walking or dog park visits, midday potty and play visits, vacation pet care and pet taxi to the vet, groomer, daycare, etc. I am also trained in pet first aid and can assist with post-operative care for your pet if they are injured or recovering from surgery.

Q. What kind of pets do you care for?

A. I have a wide range of experience with all kinds of life and am confident handling any species, size, and temperament. If you have a unique pet or one with unusual needs I will work closely with you to make sure that I provide the same quality of care as you do.

Q. Can you administer medications to my pets while I am away?

A. Yes. I can provide the necessary care and attention your pet needs to heal comfortably and completely from any injury or illness. I have experience giving topical, oral, and subcutaneous medications of all kinds as well as postoperative care such as applying ice and/or heat, massage, changing bandages, or rehabilitation exercises.

Q. What areas do you service?

A. I am based in Cleveland Heights and serve all of Cleveland’s downtown, east side, and suburbs. I will drive up to 30 minutes to a client’s home.

Q. When are you available to take care of my pet(s)?

A. I provide pet sitting services from 7am - 10pm, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. If I am not available for any period of time I will notify you as far ahead as I can.

Q. Do you require a certain number of visits per day for vacation pet care?

A. Yes, I require that dogs have at least three visits per day and that cats have at least one visit every other day. I require this in order to provide your pets with the quality of care to keep them comfortable, healthy, and happy while you are away.

Q. How much notice do you need to reserve pet sitting visits?

A. In order to guarantee availability please give as much notice as possible, preferably one week. To secure pet sitting around major holidays (New Year’s Eve, July 4, Thanksgiving, etc.) be sure to book a few weeks ahead of time, as available space tends to fill up quickly. If you have an urgent, emergency, or last minute need for pet sitting services due to delayed flights, late work meetings, etc., I will do everything I can to accommodate your schedule and the needs of your pet(s).

Q. How is payment handled?

A. Payments for regular weekly walk or sitting appointments are due in bulk at the end of each week’s services. Vacation services are billed at the point of contact to secure the date and times requested, and payment is due in full on or before the first day of services rendered.

Q. What type of payments are accepted?

Q. Do you charge extra for holidays?

A. Yes, there is a $5 surcharge for each visit on major national and (some) religious holidays including: New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve.

Q: Is there a cancellation fee for visits?

A: Yes, if appointments are cancelled with less than 24 hours notice a $10 cancellation fee will be charged to the client. Please understand that my goal is to service all clients requesting care in their homes and that service is on a first come first serve basis. If you book services then you are essentially reserving time slots throughout the day that other clients aren't able to reserve.

Q. When do I give PAWS a key to access my home?

A. Most clients give a key at the free consultation. If you are unable to do so at that time, a charge of $15 will be assessed for me to come to your home and pickup the key unless other arrangements are made. Please be sure to test the copied key to ensure that it works properly.

Q. How does PAWS determine what time to do a visit?

A. Visits are scheduled within a 2-hour window but I will do my best to keep the time as close to your pet’s routine as possible. When we meet for your initial consultation we will establish a specific time request for each visit and you can expect that I will be there at that time +/- 60 minutes.

Q. Do you need us to contact PAWS when we return from our travels?

A. Yes. For pet care visits where the owner is away from home overnight please contact me when you return so that I know your pet(s) will be taken care of. You may do so by phone, email or text. Should your return be delayed or extended please let me know ASAP so that we may coordinate to extend the care of your pet(s). Additional visits are subject to normal fee structure.

Q. What is your policy on dog walking in extreme weather?

A. When certain weather conditions (e.g. extreme heat, cold, or thunderstorms) occur please understand that your dog's walk may be shortened to a potty break rather than a full walk. However, I will still stay and provide company to your pet(s) for the duration of the scheduled visit inside the safety and comfort of your home.

Q. Where do you walk my dog(s)?

A. I walk each client’s dog(s) on their own and in their own neighborhood. I do not gather dogs from different clients and walk them all at the same time. If requested I can drive the dog to a park or nature reserve for their walk. This can be arranged during the initial consultation or at any time by contacting me directly.

Q. If my dog(s) have been trained to walk off-leash during their walk, will you do it?

A. No, I do not walk dogs without a leash. This is for their own safety and so that I do not have a situation where they run away and I lose them.

Q. My cat lives both inside and outside, will you let him/her out when you are visiting?

A. Yes, I understand that many cats live large portions of their life outside, and that they are most happy and comfortable when that routine is uninterrupted. However, because I am not their primary pet parent an outdoors-living cat may not come to me as he/she normally would when you are home and so a scheduled visit may not include direct contact with the pet. In this case the visit was still made and so payment is still due in full. I will work with you to make sure that the cat receives the necessary care it needs if it insists on staying outside. Please note that, due to the unpredictability of outside life, I will not be held liable if an outdoor cat runs away, is injured, and or passes away due to unforeseen circumstances while outside. Hiring PAWS states that you agree to these terms.